NEED TO KNOW
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are bringing their two dogs, Pula and Mia, back to the U.K.
- Pula first joined the couple’s family in the U.K. in 2018, but Mia was adopted after their move to California
- While the dogs are joining the family, other animals are staying behind in California
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s two dogs are joining the family as they move to the U.K.
Just days after PEOPLE revealed on Aug. 19 that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were moving their family back to Britain for an extended period, the couple arrived back in Harry’s home country on Wednesday, Aug. 26, with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The BBC also reported the arrival news, adding that the family flew privately from California to Birmingham, England.
PEOPLE has learned that the family’s dogs, a black Labrador retriever named Pula and a beagle named Mia, are joining the family in Britain.
The move marks a return for Pula, who joined Harry and Meghan’s family shortly after their 2018 wedding. The pup — whose name means “rain” in Setswana, and since rain is very scarce in Botswana, it’s considered valuable and a blessing — then moved stateside after Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, stepped back from their royal roles and relocated to her home state of California.
Mia joined the family in 2022. The senior beagle was rescued from a Virginia breeding facility, and Meghan and Harry adopted her through Beagle Freedom Project.
Shortly after her rescue, volunteer Shannon Keith spoke with the L.A. Times, recounting how Meghan was adamant about adopting an adult dog rather than one of her puppies.
“The duchess is holding Mia and was like, ‘We’re adopting her,’” Kelly recalled. “She was like, ‘No, we don’t want a Christmas puppy…we want ones we can help who are older.’ “
Meghan has a long history with animal rescue, dating back to the adoption of her first pup, Bogart, and then her beloved beagle, Guy. While Bogart stayed with friends when Meghan moved to the U.K. ahead of her wedding to Harry, Guy made the move to Britain and was a witness to Harry’s proposal.
Guy moved to California with the family in 2020, and he died in January 2025.
Both Mia and Pula have appeared on Meghan’s Instagram page, which she relaunched in 2025, and media for her lifestyle brand, As ever.
Most recently, the pups appeared in a video celebrating Meghan’s 45th birthday in early August. Despite Meghan and Prince Harry trying to persuade their pets to sport small silver party hats, the dogs were not very interested. In the clip, Mia is seen rolling around on the floor, the hat squished beneath her, while Pula carries the accessory in her mouth.
While Pula and Mia are joining the family in Britain, some other animals are staying behind in California. PEOPLE learned that the family’s chickens will remain at the Montecito house and be cared for.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex rescued 10 hens from a commercial factory farm and were gifted another by neighbor Ellen DeGeneres.
They famously showed off the brood during their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where Meghan told the host, “I just love rescuing.”
Meghan appeared to share a glimpse of a gift for those caring for the chickens in a video shared on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, Aug. 25. She giggled as “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band played, and she showed off a hand towel featuring chickens and the phrase, “People who take care of chickens are literally chicken tenders.”
Amid their move back to the U.K., the couple will maintain their home in Montecito and their vacation property in Portugal.
The move back does not mean a return to royal roles for Meghan and Harry. King Charles is said to have been clear that there will be no change to the couple’s status as private individuals and non-working members of the royal family, keeping with the agreement they previously reached with the late Queen Elizabeth in 2020.
